Max Ettinger (1874-1951)

[Wheesht]

Note: This post with links to excerpts from a 1925 opera has been cleared with a moderator.

Max Ettinger was born in Lemberg (Lviv) in 1874 into a strictly religious family. His grandfather, a respected rabbi, rejected music on principle, and it was only thanks to his mother that he finally received at least a minimal musical education in his youth. At age 24 he took private lessons with Heinrich von Herzogenberg. A year later he was admitted to the Music Academy in Munich, where he studied with Rheinberger, Thuille and Viktor Gluth. Altogether he lived in Munich for over 20 years and was successful with no fewer than seven completed operas in the 1920s. In view of the political developments in Germany he decided to move to Switzerland in 1933 and settled in Ascona. He was not recognised as a refuge until 1950, was forbidden to work and was thus completely cut off from the musical world, his earlier successes forgotten. He died poor and forgotten in Basel in 1951.

His 1925 one-act opera "Juana", based on a play by the German dramatist Georg Kaiser, was very successful, with performances in various European countries. It was published by Universal Vienna, and on 17 January 1933 the composer personally conducted  his music for "Juana" on Berlin radio. This was recorded and was to be broadcast at midnight on 30 January, a time chosen especially for listeners in New York (where the time would be 6 pm). However, at midnight an official appeared and explained, somewhat sheepishly, that the broadcast could not take place. The hour had been reserved for a government address. It was Hitler's first speech after having being made Reich Chancellor.

Ettinger, who had no children, left his estate to the Jewish Community (Israelitische Cultusgemeinde) Zurich, where it is held to this day, including eleven 78s with the recordings from "Juana". These have been digitised and can be found at the end of this biographical article in German.

[Alan Howe]

Thanks for this fitting tribute to Ettinger; and what a tragic end to his life - the victim, despite his escape to Switzerland, of Nazi persecution, unrecognised as a refugee until just before his death.

[Wheesht]

I am happy to report that there have been at least two occasions in recent years where Ettinger's music has found new interest. His Suite for Violin and Piano in four movements from 1943 is available on a double CD 'Jewish Music from Switzerland' released in 2024 on the VDE-GALLO label.

Also in 2024 the Nuremberg Pocket Opera was so successful with a production of the 1925 Opera 'Der eifersüchtige Trinker' (The Jealous Drinker), with all four performances completely sold out, that there will be a revival in October this year.

Extracts here.

[Alan Howe]

Thanks once again for this update.